The Menlo College men's soccer team kicked off its 2012 California Pacific Conference slate with a bang, cruising to an 8-0 blowout victory over visiting Pacific Union on Wednesday. The win was Menlo's third straight as the Oaks improved to 5-1-3 on the year.

Early and often was the theme for the Oaks, as they lit up the back of the net to the tune of seven goals in the first half. Just six minutes in, junior Andrew Cota began the scoring assault with two goals spanning less than a minute. The two net-finders pushed the Santa Clara native's team lead to nine goals on the year.

Moments after Cota's second goal in the seventh minute, Hugo Conchas took over with two of his own, the first coming in the eighth minute and the next in the 26th. It was the Redwood City senior' first two of the year, much to his delight.

"It felt like a lot of pressure off my back," said Conchas on putting his first two check marks in the goal column. "I've been waiting to get a goal lately, so it finally feels good."

Conchas finding the back of the net for the first time this year proved to be a common theme for the Oaks, as four more players followed suit. Sophomore Ricardo Urruela and seniors Ian Craig and Blair Ord did the honors in the first half, while fellow senior Daniel Martinez capped off the Menlo scoring with a strike in the 85th minute.

Defensively, the Oaks stifled Pacific Union to just one shot throughout the course of 90 minutes, with a trio of Menlo keepers in senior Alex Palomarez, junior Giovanni Serrato, and freshman Armando Medina not having to make a save.

"It was good to get everyone in the game today, we are just trying to get better and are looking forward to our next opponent," Menlo third-year coach Mike Keller said on this afternoon's dominating performance.

Next up for Menlo will be a home match against Embry-Riddle on Saturday at 4 p.m.

— Menlo College Athletics

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